interviewing maiya ibrahim, debut author of spice road | spice road blog tour
Hello, dear friends! Today I have something so exciting and special for y’all! Today I have an interview with Maiya Ibrahim, author of the debut YA fantasy, Spice Road!
Spice Road is a Arab-inspired fantasy (by a Lebanese author!) with a spice based magic system and themes surrounding colonization and imperialism. It’s a book you’ve definitely gotta check out and I’m so happy to welcome Maiya Ibrahim to the haven today to tell us all about it!!
This post is part of a blog tour facilitated by TBR & Beyond Tours
interview with maiya ibrahim
Hello and welcome to my little patch of internet, Ms. Ibrahim! It’s so lovely to have you here today! First and foremost, as is customary in Lebanese culture (and other Arab cultures), I must insist you sit and have some good food and something nice to drink! So, of course, my first question is what are your drink and/or snack of choice while reading or writing?
Thank you so much for having me! I really wish I had a more gourmet answer for this question, but when I’m writing, I usually snack on these gluten and dairy-free Oreo-style cookies, and even though I have written an entire novel about tea, I usually drink either water or Coke. (I know, not the most health-conscious menu.)
Being both a new parent and debut author, I’m horrendously time-poor, so reading is unfortunately something I can usually only do when I’m between activities, so I don’t have a go-to snack for that!
Now that we’re all settled, I’d love it if you could give us a quick logline/elevator pitch for Spice Road.
Seventeen-year-old warrior Imani leaves her hidden desert city on a quest to find her missing older brother, whose betrayal is now her people’s greatest threat.
What inspired Spice Road and what was the process of actualizing the book like?
One of my biggest inspirations was wanting to write something epic that contributed to more Arab and SWANA representation in fantasy, which was sorely lacking when I was growing up and getting into the genre.
In terms of actualizing the book, Spice Road is a bit of a Pokémon in that it’s gone through several evolutions, though the heart of it has remained the same. I pitched a very early iteration of it during DVPit, which is how I connected with my amazing agent, Peter Knapp. We revised the book together for about a year before it went out on submission, and then once the trilogy sold to Delacorte Press, I worked with my editor, Kelsey Horton, through several rounds of revisions, where a lot was taken away and a lot was added in to bring the book to the one it is today. The editorial process pushed me creatively, and I learned a lot about writing fantasy and how to plot and edit more efficiently.
One of the things I love about Lebanese culture and overarching Arab culture is how important family and community is to our individual lives. I loved seeing this reflected in Spice Road, as the story very much shows the strength of family bonds, particularly sibling bonds! Kind of jumping off of how important family and community is in our cultures, how would you describe the communities involved in Spice Road and their relationship to each other?
Great question! Imani lives in the Sahir, a prosperous land of magic that’s been hidden from the rest of the world for centuries. Socially and politically, it’s a complex network of clans and families, and there’s a pervasive cultural emphasis on which clan you come from, who your ancestors are, and the reputations of your family members. Loyalty to clan and duty to the greater tribe are values held in high regard, making Sahiran society quite tightknit.
The shadow aspect of this emphasis on clan and community is that it takes place to the exclusion of the communities beyond their borders. Sahiran society is very much an insulated, inward-focused one, and its relationship with the outside world is largely non-existent. Even when there is an opportunity to create a positive relationship with a neighbouring kingdom that is being colonized by a foreign Empire, the ruling Council of Al-Zahim chooses to maintain the Sahiran tradition of proud secrecy and seclusion. ‘Us vs Them’ is a major theme of the novel, and throughout her journey, Imani grapples with her responsibility to help other people, even if they’re not part of her community.
This theme is also mirrored within Qalia, the capital city that Imani calls home. From the outset, we learn that members of her clan occupy important stations in the city, as they have done since the city’s founding. It’s a point of great pride for her, but without really realizing it, she exists within a bubble of wealthy, esteemed clans who have formed their own exclusionary community.
It’s only when Imani encounters Taha, a fellow warrior who inhabits an opposing community of clans with humble origins, do we begin to see her privilege. Their relationship, and that of the communities they come from, is antagonistic, and it forces Imani to confront some uncomfortable truths about herself.
The devastating repercussions of colonization is a major “theme” of Middle Eastern history and some of the early hints of colonization have their roots in spice trade. Spice Road‘s own title is very much a kind of allusion to this real life history being taken into the fantasy of the story. Can you tell us a bit about the theme of colonization as it relates to Spice Road and why you felt it was important to dissect, even in a book for young adults?
(Beware, spoilers ahead!)
The two major settings in Spice Road are the Sahir and the Kingdom of Alqibah, a non-magical land beyond the enchanted desert that guards Imani’s homeland. In Alqibah, the trading of spices is the lifeblood of the kingdom, while the magical Spice, misra, is the lifeblood of the Sahir. Both are highly coveted resources, and both attract the colonial Harrowland Empire, which comes seeking to expand its own prosperity. When Imani confronts the Council’s lies about the outside world, the novel also examines how history can be a product of colonization by the victors.
Both colonialism and imperialism have left deep scars on the Middle East, North Africa, and the Arab world, and the horrific repercussions are still being felt. We tend to associate these practices with the past, as things that belong to the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire (if we want to talk specifically about the Middle East and surrounding regions), but they are still happening across the planet, albeit often presenting as financial or economic rather than military intervention.
I wanted to dissect these themes in Spice Road because I think that of all audiences, young adults should be allowed to explore real world issues, including within fantasy fiction which has always been a great genre for social commentary. It sounds cheesy, but young adults are the future, and the best way to build a better future is by not repeating the mistakes of the past. But you must understand the past first to do that.
What was your favorite part of writing Spice Road?
There are so many ‘favourites’—worldbuilding, the action scenes, the magic, the banter between Imani and the djinni, Qayn—but I think the most rewarding, special part of writing Spice Road was being able to draw inspiration from my cultural and ethnic background, and infuse it into every aspect of the novel.
What are the top five songs on your playlist for Spice Road?
Spice Road’s playlist is very long, but these are five songs that had heavy rotation:
- Burn It All Down (ft PVRIS)
- Royalty – Egzod & Maestro Chives (ft. Neoni)
- The Devil in Disguise – Charlotte Eve Matthews, Vance Westlake, Chris Dececio
- Legends Never Die (ft. Against The Current)
- Phoenix (ft. Cailin Russo and Chrissy Costanza)
How would you describe your characters’ aesthetics?
I’d say Imani’s aesthetic is elegant practicality, with a subtle flair (subtle compared to her sister, Amira, who enjoys colourful makeup and clothes). Imani prides herself on a simplistic style, but given her upbringing, she’d probably still pull out a pocket mirror with a gold engraved backing.
Taha’s aesthetic is practical, down-to-earth, and not at all showy, except when it comes to his choice of tunics, and then he’ll make sure the neck is open enough to show off his chest—you know, just in case anyone forgets that he’s tall and strong.
The best way to describe Qayn’s aesthetic is indulgent. He wears luxurious fabrics (in black only, mind you), and he enjoys the finer things in life.
What type of people do you think your characters would be if they took a giant road trip together?
Spice Road has some traveling, so I know exactly the type of people my characters would be on a road trip together: perpetually at each other’s throats and at serious risk of killing each other before the dangers of the world can do it for them.
about spice road
Title: Spice Road
Series: The Spice Road Trilogy
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Release Date: January 24, 2023
The first book in an epic fantasy series for fans of Sabaa Tahir, Hafsah Faizal and Elizabeth Lim, set in an Arabian-inspired land. Raised to protect her nation from the monsters lurking in the sands, seventeen-year-old Imani must fight to find her brother whose betrayal is now their greatest threat.
In the hidden desert city of Qalia, secret spice magic awakens affinities in those who drink the misra tea. With an affinity for iron, seventeen-year-old Imani wields a dagger like no other warrior, garnering her the reputation as the next greatest Shield for battling
the dangerous djinn, ghouls, and other monsters that lurk in the sands beyond city limits.
Her reputation has been overshadowed, however, by her brother who tarnished the family name after he was discovered stealing their nation’s coveted spice–a tell-tale sign of magical obsession. He disappeared soon after, believed to have died beyond the Forbidden Wastes, and leaving Imani reeling with both betrayal and grief.
But when Imani uncovers evidence her brother may be alive and spreading their nation’s magic beyond the desert, she strikes a deal with the Council to find him and bring him back to Qalia before he can reveal the city’s location. Accompanied by Qayn, a roguish but handsome djinni, and Taha, a powerful beastseer whose magical talents are matched only by his arrogance, they set out on their mission.
Imani will soon discover there are many secrets that lie beyond the Forbidden Wastes–and in her own heart–but will she find her brother before his betrayals endanger the fate of all of Qalia?
In this epic and action-packed fantasy, one young heroine navigates the treacherous road between protecting the ones you love and staying loyal to the place you call home.
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about maiya ibrahim
Maiya Ibrahim is the debut author of SPICE ROAD, publishing January 24, 2023 from Delacorte Press and Hodder & Stoughton. She graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Technology Sydney. When she isn’t writing, reading, or spending time with her family, she enjoys video games, gardening, and expanding her collection of rare trading cards. She lives in Sydney, Australia.
She is represented by Peter Knapp of Park & Fine Literary and Media, Claire Wilson of RCW Literary, and Mary Pender-Coplan of United Talent Agency.
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This sounds so amazing! I’m excited for Spice Road!